Agency Archives | Page 8 of 52 | Bristol Creative Industries

Stuff, the Bristol based creative studio, played a key role in the official launch of Brabazon at a prestigious event in London, officiated by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Stuff has been working with YTL Developments (UK) Limited for the past 5 years, looking after the advertising, marketing, branding and design needs for Brabazon – the exciting redevelopment of the former Filton Airfield.

For the launch event, we were responsible for creating and producing an impressive array of marketing materials to fill the Royal Lancaster Hotel’s Westbourne Suite, highlighting the scale and ambition of the project to the 250 plus guests.

Alongside this, we produced a dramatic 90 second film that captured the rich history of the site and showcased all of the exciting developments coming over the horizon at Brabazon. The film was played on stage as the climax of the afternoon’s proceedings, marking the signing of the investment agreement between the UK and Malaysian governments.

Joe Baker, Managing Director of Stuff said “We’re very proud of all the great creative work we produce for Brabazon and to be part of such an incredible project and historic moment.”

Bristol-based video production agency Skylark Media has been announced as a finalist in the Creative Shootout 2025, a national competition that celebrates innovative and impactful campaigns. The final will take place on 30th January at BAFTA in London, where Skylark Media will compete against five other top creative agencies.

This year, the competition’s challenge centres around Epilepsy Action, a leading charity supporting people with epilepsy. Skylark Media will have just four hours to brainstorm, create, and present their campaign idea live to a panel of industry experts. The winning agency will scoop Epilepsy Action as a client, a £10k prize and a £250,00 media package with inventory from partners including The Guardian, Clear Channel, Acast and Google.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our team to showcase the creativity, strategic thinking, and passion that define us at Skylark.” says Nina Postans, managing director of Skylark Media. “Representing the South West as a creative agency is a huge honour, and we’re thrilled to pitch our ideas to a stellar panel of judges, a live audience, and Epilepsy Action—a cause that resonates deeply with our mission to create meaningful, impactful content.”

The Creative Shootout, now in its 8th year, is recognised for its fast-paced format, putting agencies to the test under tight deadlines while raising awareness for vital causes. They join Propellernet, Muckle Media, Boldspace, Brands2Life and PHA Media in the final.

For more information about Skylark Media and their work, visit www.skylarkmedia.co.uk.

Fiasco is excited to announce that Gabby Luciani has joined the team as Account Director. Gabby brings over 10 years of experience working as a creative producer and account handler at some of the finest small and mid-sized agencies across London and the South West. With past clients that include YouTube, Activision, Nike and WWF, Gabby’s breadth of commercial experience, combined with her passion for creative collaboration, makes her a fantastic addition to their growing team.

“Gabby’s varied experiences have given her the perfect mix of commercial experience and know-how. I have no doubt she’ll play a key role in driving the agency forward as we approach our 15th year in the business.” – Ben Steers, Co-founder and Executive Creative Director.

Gabby adds: “Joining Fiasco feels like the perfect opportunity to contribute to a team that’s not only brimming with creativity and ambition, but also deeply committed to delivering meaningful, impactful work for their clients. I’m thrilled to be part of an agency that’s constantly pushing boundaries and focused on thoughtful growth. ” – Gabriella Luciani, Account Director.

Fiasco is a design agency that works at the sweet spot of brand and digital. People are at the heart of everything they do. At Fiasco, each and every team member brings a unique perspective and every voice is heard. You can read more about Fiasco and Gabby, over on their site here.

Nine Tree Studios, Bristol’s biggest independent studio, has launched a WhatsApp Community to give back to local filmmakers, photographers, creatives, and production companies.

Primarily it’s a free loyalty programme offering studio discounts and freebies, including:

There’s also groups for advice and jobs, and private channels for production companies and studios to collaborate and share advice.

“We’ve always wanted our space to be able to support Bristol’s creative community” said Russell Jones, Co-Founder of Nine Tree Studios.

“Nowadays email newsletters feel old and clunky and aren’t really suited to what we wanted, like offering free studio hire to those who need it, and promoting and discussing events.”

“By virtue of having members we also hope it’ll be a space for freelancers, screen professionals, studios and production companies to share advice, post jobs, collaborate, and generally chit-chat.”

Suitable for set builds, commercial productions, photography and HETV, the space features two main studios – a 4,640sq ft soundstage and a 567sq ft infinity cove – plus a podcast suite, green rooms, production offices and a 9,000sq ft backlot.

I spend time at the end of each year writing an ‘It’s a wrap’ piece for the Shaped By team. This year, Alex Waite ✎ , our marketing director, suggested that I write a version for a wider audience. I’m not sure who that audience would be, but I guess if you’re in the creative sector, or trying to break into the creative sector or fancy understanding a little more about our agency and our world, then it could be of interest.

So a very quick intro – I’m Nick, CEO of Shaped By, a UK-based creative agency operating predominantly in the B2B tech sector and these are some of my thoughts on the last year and the year(s) ahead.

BTW, these are my thoughts and not based on any scholarly knowledge – I’d be interested to hear what you think.

Survive until 2025 – WTF!!!

I’ve heard this quite a lot over the last few months, and it’s really bugging me.

I’m a firm believer that negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expect the worst, and the chances are you’ll get the worst.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand this has been a super tough year for a lot of people – it’s not been plain sailing for us by any stretch.

But, we should be used to operating in difficult times – the opening words of my ‘It’s a wrap’ 2022 were, “Let’s be honest, running an agency in a stable economic environment seems like a long and distant memory.” And that hasn’t changed since.

Since starting Workbrands (our previous agency that relaunched as Shaped By in 2021) we’ve gone through a lot:

All very tough times in their own way, but as a sector we’ve always adapted and come through. We’re in the business of solving problems. We face troubles head on. Adapt our approach, change the way we do things, we’ve innovated and, most importantly, been positive.

Why does Survive until 2025 bother me so much? Firstly, it seems to suggest there’s a magic ingredient that will be added to the mix in 2025, making it more promising than 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024.

But, nobody’s offering an inkling about what that magic ingredient is. Without sound advice or knowledge this misplaced optimism or ‘Hopium’ isn’t helping anyone.

Secondly, it also feels like people are throwing the towel in – a ready-made excuse for not succeeding. As I say, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

We need to provide more support and encouragement, focus on the problems, and find solutions to help us all succeed.

The opportunities are still there.

Setting yourself up for success now is no different to how it’s always been – as my good friend Andy Brown says, it’s a constant focus on balancing the three things that make an agency work:

On the surface our business is pretty simple – but getting each of these right, all the time, is a real challenge.

New business

New business is always a hot topic at agency gatherings, and for good reason. Maintaining a strong pipeline isn’t just difficult – it’s existential. But, there’s a tendency among agency owners to lose sight of something fundamental: we’re (most of the time) operating in the B2B sector, and that requires a certain mindset shift.

Why does this matter? Too many of us are treating new business like a quick-win sales game. The reality is that it’s a long-term, relationship-driven process. As with any B2B transaction, prospects don’t just stumble into your agency ready to sign a six-figure project. They need to see you, hear from you, and trust you long before you even know they exist.

Investing in consistent brand-building. It’s not just about great case studies or a killer creds deck. Prospective clients need to know what your agency stands for, what makes you unique, and why they should choose you—even before they have an RFP in hand.

Playing the long game. B2B buying cycles are complex, involve multiple decision-makers, and often take months (if not years). The seeds you plant today might not bear fruit until H2 2025 or beyond. That’s why your new business efforts need to be steady, intentional, and built on trust.

It’s ironic that agencies preach the value of branding and strategic marketing to their clients but often fail to apply these same principles to themselves. Agencies aren’t exempt from the realities of B2B marketing—we’re part of it.

One thing that Alex Waite said to me when he joined the Shaped By team was that we needed to build our ‘reputation through repetition’ and I refer to that a lot. You need to define your positioning and messaging and then nail your colours to the mast. Bang the drum in front of the right people at the right time and, as long as you have something people want to buy, you’ll see results.

We launched Shaped By as a new agency in 2021 – a new name, a new proposition and a new audience. At that time, I made a choice that we would have to invest significantly in our new business function – investing in experienced, full-time marketing and new business people to build the brand. Three years on and we’re enjoying the fruits of our labour.

It was seen as a bit of a risk and a lot of our peers didn’t agree with the approach. But our return on marketing investment (ROMI) has gone from washing its face in the first year of the new agency to 6+:1 this year – still room for improvement, but it’s going in the right direction and, for me, justifies the intent and ambition we have in our approach for driving new business.

I’m often counting my lucky stars that we’re in the creative sector. I feel there’s a romanticism from people on the outside looking in that it’s a great space to work in. And on the whole, that’s true. We spend a lot of time solving people’s problems through creative thinking and amazing design—a privilege that’s not lost on me. On the whole, it’s usually a great experience.

We’re fully aware that everyone client-side (and subsequently agency-side) seems to be under increasing amounts of pressure – facing challenges on a daily basis – budget constraints, changing goals, tighter timelines, ever evolving briefs and priorities.

These challenges are a fact of working life, they happen. And when they do there are two approaches to take. And one works a lot better than the other.

First, there’s the outdated, old school ‘client and supplier’ mindset which sometimes rears its ugly head. The relationship becomes transactional: “I’m the client and here’s what’s gonna happen”. It’s a rigid, non-collaborative approach.

Then there’s the better, logical way – where clients and agencies collaborate. We understand the realities of the situation and work with each other to find the best possible solution. It’s not about compromise; it’s about being realistic and mature, seeing challenges for what they are, and tackling them together.

Agency client relationships work better when they go from supplier to partner. It’s something that can take time to nurture, and it has to be a two way thing. Without it, you can’t push boundaries or explore new ideas, or think of paths less trodden.

If people aren’t receptive to opening up to each other then the chances of success when the pressure is really on are slim.

There’s a huge amount to say about how to make the most of your client agency relationship and it’s something we’re very passionate about.

The subject ‘Getting the most out of your creative agency’ has been covered in our podcast series ‘The Changemakers’ and as a panel session at our two day event ‘Bring your own Bold’. You can take a look at both of them here:

In this episode of our podcast series, Wei Kee – our client services director – chats with Dave Corlett – our business director – about her experiences of getting the most out of your agency. Listen on:

In this session of our two day event, Wei and creative director Tom Ovens were in conversation with Maria McLaughlin, Senior Director, Global Brand + Creative at Abnormal Security and Ben Long, Creative Director at Rubrik, as together they explored what makes a strong client/agency relationship.

The panel discussed the value of true collaboration, along with some of the common challenges that arise early in these relationships and how to navigate them.

‘Brand is back’ is a term bandied about in the B2B sector over the last year or so – it’s certainly something we’re seeing evidence of from talking with clients, the opportunities we’re getting, insight from our own research and thought leadership and also evidence from wider resources.

It’s definitely there. More conversations about positioning, messaging and visual identity, less short-term thinking about lead or demand gen campaigns.

Is this a disillusionment in the market with the effectiveness of lead generation? Is it a realisation that many, many firms are swimming in a sea of sameness. Is it a greater understanding of buyer behaviour? Or changes with buyer behaviour – more focussed on personal reasons for choosing vendors rather than solely focussing on business needs?

Inevitably, it’s a combination of all these and more. But, it’s the reason we love the challenge of working with B2B brands and helping them engage with their audiences.

As an aside, on that note that firms are swimming in a sea of sameness, here’s an interesting stat for you (taken from the Dentsu ‘Superpowers Index 2024).

AI – an innovation with integrity

I love AI, AI is great and we’re only scratching the surface of what we can do with it and how it can help. We’re on a journey at Shaped By to adopt it into the agency. Innovation with integrity is what we’re calling the process. The impact is, and will continue to be, incredible.

But, there are areas where it just isn’t doing it for me, I fear it’s going to get worse, and it’s having an impact on us all. It happens when people are lazy. Relying too much on the technology as an end-to-end solution. Not caring about the output and the damage it can do to a brand – whether that’s a company brand or a personal brand.

Here are a couple of negative impacts I’m noticing. Not so long ago, you could still get results with well-researched, well written, well-timed and well-intended comms. We used to do some great personalised campaigns that bore good results. But not now. The volume of AI-written and AI-automated sales messages has made it a LOT harder to get in touch with people. We’re always looking for new ideas and approaches to get in touch with our audience. Some are working, some not so much but the issues of landing your message are real. And that’s a problem, but the challenge of doing things differently also represents an opportunity to differentiate.

Another issue for me is the sheer volume of AI generated drivel masquerading as content. Your social feeds will be full of it, you can (usually) spot it a mile away – it’s a list, it’s a LinkedIn carousel, it’s formatted in that certain way ChatGPT does. It’s generic, ill-targeted and very, very boring.

Buyers are crying out for thought leadership, they crave reading and listening to content from subject expert matters. This is another area for brands to stand out – brands that can demonstrate genuine expertise and deliver it in ways that are memorable, easy to understand, easy to share and hyper-relevant for the audience have a real opportunity to steal a march on their competition.

Finally, are we starting to see some briefs come in about using AI purely as a cost-saving measure? It’s a question worth asking, especially when authenticity and emotional connection are central to the work we do. Using AI strategically can unlock incredible potential, but relying on it solely to trim costs – especially in creative work – risks undermining the very elements that make a campaign effective.

Don’t get me wrong – AI has its place. We’ve seen it deliver exceptional results in specific contexts when it’s the right tool for the job. But creativity is about impact, not just efficiency. If AI is being used with integrity, to enhance ideas or streamline production, it’s a fantastic asset. But if the primary goal is cutting corners, it runs the real risk of falling short.

Thank you for reading this ramble, I hope you found some of it of interest – it would be great if you could leave any thoughts, comments or questions below.

Bristol, 18 December 2024 – Istoria Group, the Bristol-based collective of creative businesses, is pleased to announce the successful management buyout (MBO) of Phoenix Wharf, marking an exciting new chapter for the award-winning interior design and branding agency. Phoenix Wharf, known for its work in the hospitality sector, will now continue as an independent company under the ownership and leadership of Creative Directors Chris Gwyther and Emma Carter, alongside Commercial Director Ollie Lewis.

Phoenix Wharf was established in 2015 within Istoria Group, after Chris and Emma, both longstanding members of Istoria Group’s sister company Ignition, proposed creating a specialised agency focused on the unique needs of the hospitality sector. Since then, the team has built Phoenix Wharf into a distinctive brand, celebrated for its impactful, emotionally resonant designs and its ‘substance with soul’ mission. The agency’s impressive client roster includes The National Trust, Space NK, Yeo Valley, Oh So Yum! and Bristol Loaf, and it has earned multiple industry accolades, including two GOLD awards in the London Design Awards’ hospitality category.

Claire Menzies, Chairwoman of Istoria Group, commented on the buyout, “It has been a true privilege to support Phoenix Wharf from its earliest days, watching it grow into a leading name in hospitality design. Chris, Emma, and Ollie have built something very special with Phoenix Wharf, and their vision and dedication make this next step a natural evolution. We’re incredibly proud of their achievements and excited to see their continued success as an independent agency.”

Reflecting on their time with Istoria Group, Phoenix Wharf Creative Director Chris Gwyther shared, “The support and encouragement from Istoria Group have been invaluable to our journey, providing us with the foundation to grow and thrive. As we look to the future, we’re energised by the opportunities that independence brings and excited to continue creating spaces that connect, inspire, and endure.”

Emma Carter, Creative Director, added, “Our years with Istoria Group have been integral to our success, allowing us to nurture our ideas and build a talented team around our core mission. We’re grateful for the platform Istoria provided and thrilled to take the next steps as an independent agency.”

As Istoria Group refocuses on its portfolio of creative and digital businesses, the buyout exemplifies its ongoing mission to incubate and support pioneering ventures. The company was originally founded by Claire Menzies and Sam Rowe (CEO) with a vision to build a collaborative collective of diverse businesses, helping innovative agencies reach their full potential while championing creativity, mutual learning, and sustainable growth.

“Phoenix Wharf embodies everything Istoria Group stands for,” Menzies added, “from bold ideas to meaningful, purpose-driven work. We look forward to cheering them on as they continue making an impact in the hospitality sector and beyond.”

We were delighted to take part in this year’s Discover! Creative Careers Week, an industry-led initiative designed to provide young people aged 11-18, from England, with encounters and experiences of the creative industries through in-school, workplace and online opportunities.

The sessions, managed by Bristol Creative Industries membership and operations manager Alli Nicholas and internship programme manager Clare Leczycki, featured talks about life in the creative sector, myth busting, the huge variety of different roles, and career pathways.

In between the talks, the young people were split into groups to research roles in the industry and consider their own values. They also worked on an example marketing campaign, including the problem they were they trying to solve and the marketing strategy. At the end of the final day, they presented their ideas.

We were really impressed by the young people who took part. Big thanks to attendee Imani Joseph-Obiorah for sharing this great post about the first day. Click on the image to read a larger version on LinkedIn.

The agencies

Here are great posts from some of the agencies about why they took part and their experiences during the events:

Bristol Creative Industries Talent Programme

A key focus at Bristol Creative Industries is boosting workforce diversity in creative businesses and helping to grow the talent pipeline for our members.

Following a competitive pitch, SIM7 has been selected by SNG (Sovereign Network Homes) as a key agency on its framework to supply property branding services over the next four years.SIM7 will work in partnership with SNG’s marketing teams, providing creative, branding and design services to drive the off-plan sales of Shared Ownership and private sale homes. This work will involve branding SNG’s schemes, developing high-profile digital and OOH campaigns, and creating assets across all channels.

SIM7 will join a handful of leading UK agencies, selected to support SNG’s ambitious growth plans.

One of the UK’s largest Housing Associations, SNG will invest £9.2bn in the next decade, building 25,000 new homes – as well as regenerating estates and improving the sustainability and quality of existing homes.

Says SIM7’s Simeon de la Torre, “As an agency with extensive property sector experience, not to mention specific knowledge of the Shared Ownership market, this is a perfect partnership for us. We’re excited about working on some of the biggest schemes in the UK, and empowering property branding by delivering the effective, messaging-driven creative that we’re known for. From property CGIs and video to scheme-specific branding, we’re looking forward to capturing and conveying the essence of the new communities that SNG is building.

“SNG is one of the best names in the industry for sustainability and social value, and the SIM7 team are all keen to help SNG deliver good, affordable homes for all.”

SIM7 is an award-winning creative agency that uses language to empower design. We drive growth by creating brands, campaigns and strategy – for marketing teams around the world. Our experience in the property sector extends to estate agents, national associations, Registered Providers, mortgage brokers and more.

For more information, contact Simeon de la Torre [email protected]

Hosted by Nick Clarkson, the first Halo Revelations event, “Putting AI to Work,” was eye-opening to the many possibilities Artificial Intelligence brings to branding and marketing. The event promised to reshape approaches to these crucial aspects of business, and it did not disappoint.

Kerry Harrison (Content Generation with AI, Essential Toolkit Strategies)

Kicking off the talks, Kerry Harrison, shared insights into the groundbreaking tools shaping the future. From creating the world’s first AI gin to utilising tools like ChatGPT Bard, Bing, and Claude Co-Pilot for writing, Kerry emphasised the role of AI in saving time on research and planning. AI, according to Kerry, is a powerful ally that generates ideas and information quickly, allowing for the creation of first drafts and structures.

One key takeaway was the importance of understanding what AI can and cannot do. Kerry stressed that while AI is a valuable tool, human intelligence is essential for strategy, creative thinking, and research. The message was clear:

Neil Collard (Adopting AI, A Mindset Revolution)

Neil Collard delved into the adoption of AI, citing Moore’s Law and Martec’s Law as foundations for understanding the rapid evolution of technology. His presentation centered on the AI Maturity Model, emphasising the importance of alignment, commitment, and ambition.

Neil urged businesses to be ahead of the curve, stating that delays in adopting AI could result in being left behind. He presented a thought-provoking idea: the alignment-adoption-ambition framework, encouraging businesses to sacrifice the sacrosanct and be open to change for success.

Tanya Sharma (Enhancing the customer experience with AI)

During her talk, Tanya Sharma focused on the transformation of customer experience through AI. She emphasised the importance of the client and customer relationship:

AI, when used, introduces new opportunities in customer experience, offering personalised interactions at scale, enhancing customer support through chatbots, and optimising marketing strategies through data analysis and predictive modelling.

Hannah Strickland and Paul Bailey (Navigating the Intersection of AI and Brand Dynamics)

Stepping in for Nick Ellis, Hannah Strickland, and Paul Bailey demystified the hype around AI integration. They revealed that Halo has seamlessly integrated AI into their workflow. During the talk, they gave a case study on a recent branding project they completed for a client, in which they used AI-generated images for the brand. The pair emphasised how AI can provide longevity and quick delivery for a client when on-brand images are created, through the use of AI and specific image prompts

AI can be used in agencies for numerous areas from social content to strategy planning. In practice image prompts can be used as a distinctive asset for a brand. ChatGPT was praised as a valuable collaborator, a partner in ideation that provides a fresh perspective.

Both Hannah and Paul encouraged a simplified approach, suggesting that AI is like having a parent with infinite patience, allowing strategists to think freely.

From content creation to customer experience, the event showcased AI as a catalyst for unlocking success. The key takeaway was clear: AI is not here to replace but to empower, and adopting it responsibly is the key to staying ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of business and creativity. Don’t be left behind – It is time to Integrate and experiment with AI.

From real-time forecasting, project management and resourcing to financial reporting and business intelligence, Synergist has been the agency software of choice for over 20 years. They’ve helped thousands of agencies move from clunky processes and hidden information to efficient workflows and insightful data that powers performance.

Now it’s brighter, bolder and easier to use than ever! Agency management software Synergist has a NEW contemporary look and feel with a fresh visual identity.

Welcome to the next evolution of Synergist. As well as a new logo and fresher feel for their website, the software itself has been given a complete makeover. It still contains all the original functionality and features loved by Synergist’s clients but now has a brighter, easier-to-use interface.

Synergist’s founder, Keith White, said: “For the last 20 years, we’ve been dedicated to providing our clients the best experience and have helped thousands of agencies streamline their processes. This latest step in our journey of continuous improvement is a significant update, helping make Synergist even easier to use.”

Award-winning digital product designers were bought in to support the redesign, and Synergist have been working away behind the scenes for the last 18 months to deliver the revamped platform.

Head of Development, Tom, said: “The brighter, bolder, new-look and clean, simple interface has been created in direct response to customer feedback. We hope that by making the interface clearer, people can keep track of all their important data much more easily. While the overall design has been simplified, the level of detail and functionality remains as in-depth as it has always been.”

“And this is just the start. We have a raft of new features and integrations planned, and we’ll be continuing with the UX overhaul of each functional area, incorporating feedback from our clients.”

Synergist is designed for agencies that want to grow smartly and smoothly. Developed in the UK, it’s recognised as the top-rated agency software for functionality, support and value. Tailored to each individual agency by agency experts who work alongside clients to ensure the software works exactly as they need it to.